KYLE TRASK
KYLE TRASK: It’s a huge honor to be in this position. We’ve earned it by just grinding out all season, getting a lot of big-time wins. We earned the right to be here.
We’re really excited to have the opportunity to play for an SEC championship. So, yeah, that’s all we’re focused on right now moving forward. This team at the end of the day is really excited to be here. We’re going to put our best foot forward and try to get this SEC title for the University of Florida.
THE MODERATOR: We’ll take questions for Kyle Trask.
Q. What do you know about Mac Jones?
KYLE TRASK: I know he’s a very talented player. He gets the job done for them pretty well. It’s going to be fun to get to play against another top QB, not only in this conference but in the country.
Q. Did you hear any of the comments Nick Saban made last night about you?
KYLE TRASK: No, I haven’t been on any social media at all.
Q. He basically said he has a lot of respect for guys that come up the hard way like you did. Can’t say enough about you positive. What does it mean when you hear the greatest coach of our lifetime in college football praising you? What does that mean to you?
KYLE TRASK: It’s pretty special. Coming from a legendary coach like him, it’s pretty cool. We got a lot of respect for their football team, as well. We both earned the right to be here with our play this season.
Yeah, it means a lot. It’s an honor just to have the opportunity to play in this game.
Q. What have you seen from Alabama’s defense? They started the year giving up a lot of points, then halfway through stepped up. What changed? What do you have to watch for?
KYLE TRASK: It starts today. It starts in our preparation. That’s what’s going to win the game on Saturday, is just our preparation throughout the week.
They got a lot of very talented players on their team. So do we. Just going to start today with the coaches and players coming together, putting together a good game plan. Not only that, but it’s also going to be about executing it on game day.
Q. After going to the championship game as a freshman, did you keep anything, hold onto anything, as a reminder, motivation to get back there?
KYLE TRASK: Yeah, I’ve actually been wearing the same exact backpack from my freshman year that we got at the SEC championship. It says “2016” on it. I always told myself I’m not going to switch backpacks until we get back here. I guess I’ll get to do that this year.
Q. What kind of shape is that backpack in after all these years?
KYLE TRASK: It’s getting a little beat up, I’m not going to lie. Luckily we got the chance to go back this year. It can finally get replaced (laughter).
Q. I don’t know if you can think of it in these terms or not. Do you see in yourself or Mac Jones kind of kindred spirits, guys that had to fight and claw to get to where they are? What kind of message about perseverance both of you might be putting out on the field this weekend?
KYLE TRASK: Yeah, I mean, I know he’s a great quarterback on and off the field. We’ve had to overcome some obstacles throughout our careers. We both came to big-time football schools. Now we’re having the opportunity to play against each other, which is really cool.
Q. How is the program better or different now than it was when you were there four years ago?
KYLE TRASK: I mean, I think both of those time periods had their pros and cons per se. It was a great team that made it to the SEC championship in 2016. We just didn’t end up getting the win, needed to execute better.
This team right now is just so explosive. I mean, they were both great in their own ways. We have to do our best to take care of business on Saturday.
Q. I know you haven’t really paid much attention to Heisman Trophy talk all season. Did you look at it at all this week? When you have three turnovers, do you feel that kind of really put a dent in your chances or do you feel like you still have an opportunity?
KYLE TRASK: Yeah, to be honest, I haven’t looked at it at all. I made a bad read on the first turnover. They got kind of a flukey, interesting interception there, which I never seen nothing like that for the second one. It was just a couple mistakes by me.
But to answer your question, no, I haven’t really looked at it at all. I’m not focused on that one bit. We’re focused on winning the SEC championship right now.
Q. What does this offense have to do? How big a challenge is it going to be to keep up on the scoreboard with Alabama? This team is scoring like 50 a game.
KYLE TRASK: Yeah, I mean, like I said before, we respect their team a lot. They have earned the right to get to this game, just like we did.
From an offensive perspective, we’re just focused on our job when we’re on the field. Like I’ve always said in the past, we want to score touchdowns every time we have our hands on the ball. That’s what we’re going to be focused on Saturday.
Q. Do you think with players back, do you feel like your offense is right there with this group from ‘Bama getting so much praise and leading the SEC in scoring?
KYLE TRASK: Yeah, like I said all season, I think we have one of the best offenses in the country. We have so many weapons all over the field. So, I mean, it just starts today with our preparation, getting ourselves in the right situations, and execution.
THE MODERATOR: That’s all the questions for you. Thank you.
KYLE TRASK: Thank you.
KYLE PITTS
KYLE PITTS: My thoughts for this game is obviously anybody in the SEC, this is the dream goal, one of the things that people write on the board at the beginning of the season.
It’s very important to any coach, player, anybody who likes the SEC, the SEC championship. So to have the opportunity to be able to play in this is an exciting moment.
THE MODERATOR: We’ll take questions.
Q. How difficult was Saturday night for you, being basically unable to help your team?
KYLE PITTS: It’s always difficult being on the sideline without my pads on. I wouldn’t say as difficult, but not being able to play and compete, but happy for my brothers are in the game. Showing they can step up at any time. Being able to have the versatility with everybody else that can fill that void, make it seem like nothing’s wrong. That’s pretty good about this team.
Q. What are the challenges with Alabama? What is this offense going to have to do for you guys to pull out this game?
KYLE PITTS: I think this offense will just go out and play our game. Nothing too special. I think execute on defense I think.
Q. How are you feeling? How is your health?
KYLE PITTS: I’m doing pretty well.
Q. When did you realize that you weren’t going to be able to go on Saturday against LSU?
KYLE PITTS: Like Coach Mullen said, it was kind of a game time decision. The medical professionals made that call. I trust them. We all trust them. I went along with their decision.
Q. Did you try to lobby to play?
KYLE PITTS: Yes. I was planning to play up till then. Then they told me it was best that I don’t. I went along with the decision.
Q. How close were you in the recruiting process with Alabama? Were you considering going there at any point?
KYLE PITTS: I feel like I’m not a country boy. I mean, I got an offer from Alabama, but that was something I didn’t really consider.
It’s a great school.
Q. When you say you were lobbying to play right up until game time, who do you lobby, what do you say? Was there any more lobbying at halftime?
KYLE PITTS: It was just between me, Coach Mullen, and the training staff. But they kind of knew. They know what’s best for me, what’s best for my future.
I don’t think you can come out at halftime and suit up. I just had to deal with it. It’s not something I kind of beat myself up about. I trust their judgment.
Q. How nice is it to see somebody taking your NFL future under consideration when they’re making those decisions?
KYLE PITTS: That was a big part I had to realize, they’re looking out for the future, not just this one game. Although we do have more games to play, I have more football to play after I leave the university. Like I said, I trusted their judgment. They knew what was best for me.
Q. How do you feel like you and your teammates are going to handle this week coming off that loss? Everybody looking at Alabama as the favorite, counting you guys out. Y’all haven’t been underdogs all season. Will that put a chip on your shoulder, will you ignore it?
KYLE PITTS: We’re putting last week’s game behind us, just worrying about what we have in front of us. It’s always no one expects Florida to win. Not discrediting Alabama. They’re a great team. We’re also a great team. We just have to go out and show the world we can beat them.
Q. Your reaction to what happened with Marco Wilson. A lot of people were frustrated in the moment, maybe you or some of your teammates. Have you talked to him, get him through these last couple days?
KYLE PITTS: I guess I actually kind of missed what happened because I didn’t see him throw the shoe. I feel like he was just hyped up. He was excited.
I mean, like I said, that was last week. Everyone has been supporting him, knowing it’s all right. That doesn’t define your whole career. Us just uplifting his spirits, despite what the media says and all the fans say. We know how Marco is as a person. To uplift him is what he needed.
Q. What did that tweet mean, you tweeted the other night?
KYLE PITTS: Just losing. Nothing to say.
Q. It created quite a buzz. Were you surprised?
KYLE PITTS: No. I kind of figured that, because that’s what’s fans and media are supposed to do. Sometimes they take things out of proportion or jump to certain statements. There was nothing behind it.
Q. Do you feel like you’re going to be at 100%?
KYLE PITTS: Yes, ma’am. That’s the plan.
Q. When you’re going in as 17-point underdogs, does that change y’all’s mindset in practice? Do you acknowledge that or just ignore it?
KYLE PITTS: I would say we ignore it because that’s what people’s jobs is, to make predictions like that. It’s only predictions. We have to go out and win Saturday, play the game that we play.
Q. I know you only spent one year with C’yontai Lewis. He used to make it such a big deal in the off season about getting back to the SEC championship. How much did he talk about that your freshman year? Did that make an impact on you?
KYLE PITTS: It did because C’yontai was a great leader. He always made it a point, for that season, that’s like one of the best moments and best places and experiences you can be a part of. Us having an opportunity to win it this year, compete for an SEC championship, it’s a great feeling.
We all know what’s at stake. Just go out and compete, play the game that we can play.
THE MODERATOR: Kyle, looks like that’s all the questions for you today. Thank you.
KYLE PITTS: All right. Thank you.
VENTRELL MILLER
VENTRELL MILLER: I just want to thank God for this opportunity to be here. A common goal we had as a team off-season was to come out and win the East, then come and compete in the championship, the SEC championship. Ready to check this goal off up come up with a win.
THE MODERATOR: Questions for Ventrell.
Q. Obviously Alabama has weapons all over the field. What will be your focus from the linebacker’s corps on Saturday? What kind of challenges do they present there?
VENTRELL MILLER: Each and every week the challenge is almost the same. Go out and stop the run, make plays on the ball, execute as a defense doing our job, focusing on what we have to do, getting off the field on third down.
Q. Offenses across the SEC, have you faced one that looks similar to what Alabama is doing? Is this a whole different animal?
VENTRELL MILLER: I guess we going to have to see. Going to see on Saturday.
Q. You’re playing good football these last couple games. Have you had a stretch like this? You got 28 tackles in two games. Have you ever been that productive on a football field before?
VENTRELL MILLER: That’s just instinct, trying to fly around to the ball, hustling to the ball. That’s what I believe happens. You have to make plays. I just try to hustle to the ball, so…
Q. The defense has been criticized a lot, been some struggles, and some really good play in there, too. Do you feel like you’re putting this unit on your shoulders, trying to set the tone, inspire it?
VENTRELL MILLER: Yeah, definitely. I always try to go out there and be a play-maker, bring the energy. It fires your teammates. Just going out there competing, trying to make plays, it’s always a great feeling.
Q. You guys are huge underdogs. Alabama is averaging 50 points a game over its last nine. Do you feel like you can match up with them? Can you use this huge underdog mentality as motivation?
VENTRELL MILLER: Yeah, definitely. Being underdog just make you go harder. That’s how I feel. You’ll be surprised on Saturday what happens I would say.
Q. Do you think maybe you guys being at full speed defensively will make a difference in terms of health because you’re getting some guys back?
VENTRELL MILLER: Definitely. Always having depth where you can come out and have your starters come off the field, still have depth, execute the same way. That solves the problems.
Q. I have to ask you about DeVonta Smith. You have some incredible play-makers, but he’s right there. What do you see with him?
VENTRELL MILLER: Definitely explosive player, fast I would say. I guess we just focus on what we got to do this week, the game plan, executing that.
Q. What do you think happened the other night? You were on a six-game winning streak, winning by a margin of three touchdowns a game. What would you put your finger on that happened the other day against LSU?
VENTRELL MILLER: I just say coming out fast, playing as a team, always having each other’s back when things not going so good. Still being motivated to go out and win each and every week.
Q. I’m saying what happened the other night. Do you feel like that didn’t happen? You weren’t ready mentally? What do you think?
VENTRELL MILLER: I’m not too sure. A couple mistakes made on both sides of the ball. Like I said, we’re on to the next week. Ain’t really worried about that too much.
Q. Y’all had a tough loss on Saturday. How do you expect this team to react in practice this week?
VENTRELL MILLER: I think the energy is high. Going to come out here, we still got the SEC championship on the line. This is a great opportunity to go out and show the world how talented we are, how good of a team we are.
Q. Do you personally do something in practice to hype your guys up, make sure everybody is ready to go? It certainly took some air out of things around Gainesville.
VENTRELL MILLER: Most definitely. I feel like I always try to spark things up, trying to talk to get guys going and stuff like that, so…
Q. Some of your teammates already said earlier that all you can really do is lift Marco Wilson up after that play. What has the reaction been like? What did you see on that play?
VENTRELL MILLER: Yeah, based off what everybody else has said, it was a mistake. He was excited. Try to encourage him to come out and compete next week because even a bigger game this week ahead of us. Just focusing on this week, being prepared this week to go out and win.
Q. You’re used to facing good running backs every single week. What challenge does this Alabama team present in the back field, in particular with Najee Harris?
VENTRELL MILLER: It’s another great challenge to go out and stop the run this week against a back like that, much respect. Like I say, we’re going to leave it out on the field on Saturday.
Q. How important is it going to be to get guys like Jeremiah Moon, Shawn Davis, and Ty’Ron Hopper back to this defense?
VENTRELL MILLER: Like I say, it creates depth. When guys go down, the younger guys got to step up. When you get that depth back, it will be good. Guys get hurt, guys get a break, stuff like that. It always helps the defense out.
Q. Going into this week obviously this game and getting through this week is a goal your team has had all season long. Is that kind of easier to put last week behind you? What will be the message to your teammates this week with maybe everybody counting y’all out, not thinking you have a chance because you just lost a game?
VENTRELL MILLER: Just go out and being remembered for something. I think our team is getting prepared this week to go out and play a great game, getting prepared all week, focusing on little things, executing the right way, going out and trying to win the game and put a number on the wall.
Q. How do you feel you will handle the underdog role, people counting y’all out? I know you don’t care about that stuff. Will it put a chip on your shoulder, give you extra motivation going into the game?
VENTRELL MILLER: Most definitely gives you a chip on your shoulder when everybody says you can’t do it. It’s a challenge to go out and prove somebody wrong. I’m always motivated by that. I feel like the team is on the same page.
THE MODERATOR: That’s all the questions we have for you. Thank you.
VENTRELL MILLER: Thank you.